Maybe take your family to a pinball show and play a variety of games. So you know what is all out there.

LTG : )

Without knowing the ages of the kids in your family or your budget, my go-to answer will always be WCS. Best family game I've owned.

World Cup Soccer is a fun game and easy for non-pinheads to understand. Shooting the goal is always a blast. You might even consider an older SS game or even an EM game as the rules are simple and straightforward for the kids to understand. As an added bonus, if you find the right one they can be reasonably priced.

Your thread title says "what's next?". The only guarantee is that one game will always turn into more games. It's the nature of the addiction I guess.

A machine with one of the longest ball times is Lord of the Rings which makes it fun to play for kids.
Since it is based on a children's story it should be fine for kids as well. Lots of people have seen the movies and a lot of the original sound bites are in there, making it attractive.
Also there is so much to do in that game that it will stay fun for adults for a long time as well.
The only disadvantage is it had lots of toys which means lots of things can break potentially. Stop by the specific thread to see if that is doable for you.

IMO they’re too young for LOTR, and it’s not an easy game to progress on unless you’re a pretty good player. I would recommend something fun to play with humor, like Monster Bash, Attack from Mars, etc.

Lloyd’s advice is the best, attend a show where there are a lot of games to sample, it will really help!

I have a Mousin' Around here (just north of Dallas) that I am considering selling. It's a pretty good game, especially for kids (kind of a silly/cartoonish theme).

It works 100%, though it does have some small cosmetic issues. If you are interested (or end up in the area and want to see it), just let me know.

Either Stern or Jersey Jack's Pirates of the Caribbean would be a solid choice for a family friendly pin.

Agreed. I love it and so does my 9 year old son and his friends. Great game with plenty of parts available and an affordable price.

think that's a little pricey for a first time owner, don't ya think?

With the age factor to consider,I would go for a GB,Pre,or a ST,Pre,good titles and fun play for the whole Family!!IMHO!!!!

Take your kids to the pinballz on research. The machines are in much better condition than the buda or lake creek location. Also has some ticket games for the kids. But it’s like 100+ pins to play. It’s the only one that’s byob too.

I just got a guardians of the galaxy, my kids love it. go put some coin in it (well it all swipe card now) and select quill w a flipper before the first plunge. Immediate 2 ball first ball. My kids LOVE that they can get a free “shaky ball” (which is what my daughter calls multiball cuz of the shaker motors) every game.

Bean,there's something else I would say;when you taught your kids to ride a bike,you didn't just put them on it and go!!! Teach them HOW to play pinball! How to catch and cradle the ball!! How to flipper pass!! Go over the rules and show them thats its a game,not just to bang around and get lucky!! Kids will tire of this when they have no direction and don't know what those flashing lights are trying to tell them!! Its like a board game ,but with better skill set,more FUN!!!AND if U don't know these simple facts,LEARN!! Get the CD, Pinball 101!!

No pinball is immune from parts breaking. None. Learn to tinker & fix. I’m a total electronics dummy - but I was able to completely tear apart & rebuild machines with all the great info online & help from other hobbyists.

I don't think there are machines that are inherently more reliable per say. If you are buying used game, I usually gauge the pin by looking at the seller's other machines. If other games seem pristine, than I wouldn't hesitate to buy. But if you are going NIB then they are usually trouble free. But regardless, all pins break down, it's inevitable.